Coil-spring metatarsal-arch support



June 10, 1930. ,w 555x345 1,763,260.

COIL SPRING MEIA'TARSAL ARCH SUPPORT Filed April 19, 1929.

atcnted .lnne M9, W36

- v UNITED STAT s PATENT oFFicE- WILLIAM SEIGLE, OF HINTON', OKLAHOMA.

Application filed April 19,

My invention relates to coil spring metatarsal arch support for supporting the metatarsal arch of the human foot.

The purposes of my invention are to pro- 5 'vide a device of this class; which will be new, novel, practical and of utility; which, when worn between the sole of the foot and the insole of the'shoe, will elastically support the metatarsal arch of the human foot; which is compac't, elastic, durable,- and sanitary;

which is adjustable longitudinally; which is adjustable laterally; which is adjustable as to height and degree of exerted pressure; which'isso constructed as to permit the free 5 action of the bones and muscles of the foot;

which-will result, by gentle pressure, in re' well as being etficient in accomplishing all the purposes for which it is intended.

This device may be used in conjunction with my longitudinal arch support for which application for patent is filed simultaneously herewith, and is intended to be used in con nection with it or other longitudinal arch supports when it is desirous to support both the metatarsal and the longitudinal arch of the human foot.- This device may be used 7 5 without a longitudinal arch'support by providing a suitable base for it; and may be if desired used without any base other than the sole-of the shoe by providing the sole with means for receiving the support. I do not 0 -wish to claim in this application the same in'vjention claimed in my application for patent for longitudinal arch support, but

I desire to claim such vinvention as is not claimed therein.

With these and other objects in view as will 1929. Serial No. 356,521.

more fully appear my invention consists in the construction, novel features, and combination of parts hereinafter more fullydescribed, pointed out in the claims hereto appended, and'illustrated in the accompanying one-sheet drawing, of which,

Figure 1 is a plan viewof my metatarsal support showing it positioned upon the front end of'my longitudinal arch support; Fig. 2 is an enlarged top view of the spring showing the adjusting plate positioned thereon; Fig.3 is a sectional view through the device;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of my longitudinal Y arch support showing my metatarsal support positioned thereon; Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of one of the slots.

Like characters of reference designate like parts in all the figures.

It is understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size, shape, weight and other details of construction, within the scope of my invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or broad principle of my invention and without sacrificing any of the advantages thereof; and it is also understood that the drawings are to be interpreted as being illustrative and not restrictive.

A. practical embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the drawings includes:

Two lateral parallel slots 1, each having a plurality of grooves or cavities 2 extending oppositely to each other and laterally from said slots. It will be observed in Fig. 1 the slots are slightly curved. -I prefer that they be used in that way though they may be made straight when desired. As may be better seen in Fig. 5 the bottoms of said cavities 2 and the bottom of said slots 1 are on the same plane, but that said cavities 2 do not extend to the upper surface of top member 4 of longitudinal arch support 5. Said slots 1 as will be seen in Fig. 1 are formed within the front central portion of said longitudinal arch support 5.

I rovide acoil s rin 6 generall conical in shape and having the largest coil at the bottom, each coil 'thereab'ove becoming'gradually smaller. Extending outwardly from the largest and lowest coil 7 of said spring 6 and one plane with same is a bifurcated arm 8, to each prong of which is attached,

by any usual means or made integral there metatarsal arch support both laterally and longitudinally. Attached to coil spring 6 in any usual manner on opposing sides of its largest coil'7. and in line with arm 8 is provided a metal plate 10 having adjacent its central portion a laterally extending lug 14, designed to engage and hold any predetermined link of chain 11. I provide a cap, or top ,12 rounded and shaped as a segment of a sphere, made of any suitable material such as hardgubber and the like. Said cap 12 is proividled on its under side and adjacent the central portion thereof with a' pin 13 secured by any usual means, which holds securely the top end linkof said chain 11, The engaging of various links of said chain ll upon said lug 14 is the means by' which adjustment of the metatarsal arch support is had vertically.

In operation it may readily be seen that the salesman or doctor after determining the particular bone or bones of the metatarsal arch which need-supporting will, press said lug members 9 together and insert them in the desired one of said slots 1 and allow them to spring outward in the desired pair of said cavities 2. The positioning of these lugs in said cavities will position said plate 10 within one of said slots 1, thus preventing the dcvice from slipping out of its desired relation to the fallen bones. It will further be seen that the lateral adjustment is accomplished by the use of any pair of said cavities 2 upon either of said grooves 1, and that the longitudinal adjustment is accomplished by the use of either of said grooves 1. It is understood by those familiar with the art that the metatarsal arches of all human feet when fallen do not necessarily fall at the same point in relation to said foot and that better treatment can be had by supporting only the dislocated art of the metatarsal arch.

.Obvious y, the invention is susceptible of embodiment in forms other than that which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described herein, and applicable for uses and purposes other than as detailed, and I therefore consider as my own all such modifications and adaptations and other uses of the form of the device other than as. herein described as fairly fall within the scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention What areaaeo is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

l. A metatarsal arch support, as described, embodying, a suitable base having lateral grooves across its front central portion adapted for positioning said support in plurality of lateral parallel grooves across its front central portion, each groove having oppositely positioned cavities extending lat' erally therefrom, a coil spring, means arranged upon said spring for adjustable positioning within said cavities, a cap for said spring and means for adjusting thethrow of said spring and the vertical movement of said cap.

3. A metatarsal arch support, as described, embodying, a suitable base having a plurality of lateral parallel grooves across its front central portion, each groove having oppositely positioned cavities extending laterally therefrom, a conical coil spring, lug means arranged upon said spring for adjustable positioning within said cavities, a cap for said spring, chain means for adjusting the throw of said spring and the vertical movement of said cap, and pin means for positioning said adjusting means upon the under side of said cap.

at. The combination with a coil spring longitudinal arch support adapted to lit the top side of a shoe sole, of a metatarsal arch support as described, the front portion of said longitudinal arch support having a plurality of parallel lateral grooves, each groove having oppositely positioned cavities extending laterally therefrom, a coil spring having its lower bifurcated end portion extending outwardly from its lower and largest coil, a plurality of lugs formed to snugly fit within said cavities, one upon each of said bifurcated ends, a plate in alinemcnt with said end portion connecting both sides of said bottom and largest cciil, a cap over saidspring, and a chain means connecting said cap and said plate for adjusting the throw of said spring and the vertical movement of said cap, all as and for the purposes specified.

5. The combination with a ba adapted to fit the top side of a shoe sole, of a: metatarsal arch support, as described, the front portion of said base, having a plurality of parallel lateral grooves, each groove having oppositely positioned cavities extending laterally therefrom below the surface of said base, an upright conical coil spring having a lower bifurcated end portion extending outwardly from its lower and largest coil, a plurality of lugs formed to snuglyfit within said cavities, one upon each of said bifurcated ends,

a plate in alinement with said end portion connecting both sides of said bottom and largest coil, a cap over said spring, and a Chain means connecting said cap and said plate for adjusting the throw of said spring and the vertical movement of said cap, all as and for the purposes specified.

WILLIAM SEIGLE. 

